Warriors

Jamal Crawford made a three-point basket from half court to beat the first-quarter buzzer, giving the Clippers a five-point lead, sending the crowd at Staples Center into a frenzy. But that was a short-lived good feeling for Crawford and the rest of the Clippers reserve unit Saturday against the Golden State Warriors during Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Clippers bench went eight for 30 shooting from the field, scoring only 26 points. "We're trying to find our rhythm," said Crawford, who was two for 11 shooting from the field, one for five from three-point range.

If there was any doubt that the first-round NBA playoff series between the Clippers and Golden State Warriors would be worthy of a daytime national television spot it was erased Saturday at Staples Center. The game didn't go down to the last shot but the last minute, with the Warriors taking a 109-105 victory over the Clippers and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Clippers have dug themselves a big hole by losing the opener in front of 19,339 fans at Staples Center, where Game 2 will be played Monday night at 7:30.

The moment was right in front of the Clippers and Golden State Warriors, there to be seized by two teams that have much disdain for each other. When the time came to grab hold of that moment, when Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series hung in the balance, the Clippers failed. The Warriors, the team the Clippers despise more than any other, didn't shy away from the moment, earning a 109-105 victory Saturday, as the home team simply wilted away at Staples Center.

There was less than a minute remaining, the score was tied, and where was the Clippers' most valuable player, biggest star and human billboard? Blake Griffin was standing on the sidelines having just fouled out. He was angrily staring up at the giant video screen. In his right hand he was holding a paper cup filled with water. Suddenly, he shouted something, spread his arms out in disgust, and dumped the entire cup over his right shoulder. Where it, um, coincidentally emptied upon a courtside fan wearing a Golden State Warriors T-shirt.

The Golden State Warriors choked. One of them did, anyway. Klay Thompson was talking to reporters after the game when he accidentally inhaled the deodorant spray Draymond Green was using two lockers away. Thompson's eyes watered and he coughed for a bit as he touched his throat. It was a momentary setback, nothing compared to what the Clippers experienced in a 109-105 loss Saturday to Golden State in a playoff opener. The Warriors were supposed to get beat without shot-blocking rebounder Andrew Bogut.

A smile crossed Blake Griffin's face as he weaved his way through a media throng Friday to answer questions about the first-round playoff series between his Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. Griffin's eyes grew wider, too, when the All-Star power forward was asked if there were any lingering issues between him and Warriors center Jermaine O'Neal. The last time the teams played each other, March 12 at Staples Center, Griffin and O'Neal had a postgame confrontation in the hallway outside of the Clippers' locker room.

Aside from the constant refrain of whether the Clippers and Golden State Warriors dislike or hate each other, their first-round Western Conference playoff series has the potential to be very entertaining. The Clippers have two All-Stars in point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin, who are considered among the best players in the NBA. The Warriors have a dynamic young backcourt of All-Star point guard Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who are considered perhaps the best-shooting guard combo in the league, earning the duo the nickname "Splash Brothers" because of their prolific outside shooting.

Consider this the leader setting the tone. Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf - two days after he was smashed by a puck that did so much damage to the left side of his face that doctors quit counting the stitches required to close the wound - expects to pop in some aspirin and play Friday in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars. "If I saw my captain take a puck in the face and come back the next day, I'd want to play as hard as I possibly can," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said Thursday.

Former pro wrestling star Ultimate Warrior, who collapsed while walking to his car last week and pronounced dead at a hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., died of cardiovascular disease. Maricopa County spokeswoman Cari Gerchick announced the finding Monday after an autopsy was conducted by the county medical examiner's office. There was no alcohol or drugs in his system. Warrior, 54, died last Tuesday. Witnesses say he clutched his chest before collapsing. Born James Hellwig, he legally changed his name to Warrior several years ago. ALSO: Manny Pacquiao's mom was, um, intense during fight [Video]

With the pro wrestling world mourning the loss of the Ultimate Warrior, WWE, the company where he gained his greatest fame, will devote part of its flagship "Monday Night Raw" TV show Monday night to reflect on his career. Interspersed throughout show, WWE will show important moments of Warrior's wrestling life including key matches, his Hall of Fame induction and his final appearance in the ring last week on "Raw. " In addition, the WWE Network will show this week a four-part special, "Warrior Week," starting Tuesday at 10 p.m. PDT. Warrior, born James Hellwig, died last Tuesday after collapsing while walking to his car in Scottsdale, Ariz.